A/N: Hm, it's been a long time since we've had a battle scene. Still trick to write, but I hope I'm improving. In other news: a cookie* to the first to tell me what song the nomads sing here. Ugh…my geek is showing. :p Also, I likely won't be able to update until December, as Nanowrimo will be busy eating my soul in November.
*Cookies are of the internet kind, you don't actually get any.
"The papa said, 'Oy if I get that boy
I'm gonna stick him in the house of detention'
Well I'm on my way
I don't know where I'm goin'
I'm on my way
Taking my time, but I don't know where
Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona
Seeing me and Julio down by the schoolyard."
-Simon & Garfunkel, "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Lera picked up her feet, running down the hallway. She could feel it in her heart. Stopping Ellis was critical. To what, she didn't know yet, but she had to could not let him say his goodbyes just yet. Perhaps it was because she spent too much time around him, but she could feel the atmosphere of the Castle changing. She recalled a story about a dead horse on a dining room table. A feast had been planned and the guests had arrived, but dinner was ruined by the dead horse on the table. It could have been a lovely time if one person just mentioned the rotting horse on the table.
The stench was getting stronger and stronger, and if Lera didn't do something about it now, it would overwhelm them all. She found him in time, just near one of the libraries. He carried a bag, thrown over one shoulder. On the other, Kahaku rested, looking sickly as ever. "Ellis, you can't go." She stepped between him and the door. "I know you're planning on leaving."
"I can't stay here, Lera." He did not skirt around the topic or try to tell her any differently. "If I do…I can't be responsible for my actions."
Lera bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She had never been so soft before. "I thought you were getting better."
"I don't think there is any getting better. Not for me." He ran one long finger down Kahaku's spine. "Something is wrong here. You can't pretend that you don't feel it."
"I have. I think we all have. But I think the only way anything can be fixed is if we stay together."
"And I think I'm what's making this place feel so wrong," he went on, as if he hadn't heard her at all. "The best thing to do is go. I don't know anything anymore. I just know that I can't stay here."
Lera said nothing. What was there left to say? He had spoken thoughts that she had forced to the back of her mind.
Ellis leaned in, close enough to feel the Wind Knight's breath on his skin. Their noses almost touch, their lips only a hairsbreadth apart. Lera closed her eyes, waiting for that bittersweet goodbye kiss. It would be her first, and probably her last.
"I'll see you again." Ellis moved away from her. Lera opened her eyes, mouth still slightly open, but this time out of surprise. He turned to go.
Lera caught his cloak, pulling him back to her. She brushed her lips across his. He smiled.
That's what I'd like to tell you. Lera never kissed him. She wanted to. She almost did, before Ellis walked away. It was a small mistake, and neither of them were thinking clearly, I'm sure. But one has to wonder what would have happened if she had mustered her courage, caught him before he left, and did what her heart told her she should have done all along? A kiss can change the world.
Instead, Ellis left alone, but with the feeling of Lera so close to him. They did not see him again for many years.
It might have remained just another strange, sad even in the Dragon Castle, if not for something that had gone missing. Ryuce, now missing a Knight, had no choice but to ask Lykouleon for help. The treasure that were to be given to Arinas were still not ready, and without Ellis's help, they might never be. "I just want you to tell me what you think of these treasures," Ryuce said as he pulled out a key to the secret safe where they had been hidden. "We might need your help to make them stronger."
He turned the lock, the door swung open. Lykouleon's green eyes widened. He had never been shown the treasures before.
The safe was empty.
"Are they invisible? Is that why they're secret?" He asked.
Ryuce could hardly speak. The treasures, the last hope for Arinas, were gone.
Of course they searched for them, sending Dragon Fighters chasing after the missing Dragon Knight. Ellis was not found, nor were the treasures. Soon it would be too late to save Arinas, and there was no longer anything they could do about it. There were attempts to make something that would strengthen that dying country, but no successes. Arinas would fall without the help of Dusis, which we all know it did.
And time went by. It went with few events as big as the Water Knight running away, and then disappearing altogether. Years were not usually counted at the Dragon Castle, but seasons and birthdays and holidays passed. I cannot pinpoint the exact date of this event, especially considering Lykouleon's strange growth rate, but this came at a time when both he and Ruwalk appeared to be eleven years old.
"I'm bored." Lykouleon and Ruwalk leaned against one of the wrought iron fences that surrounded the courtyard of the Dragon Castle. The Dragon Prince stared at the sky. "Same thing every day. Lessons, lessons, nothing, nothing. Another list of rules I'm supposed to learn without breaking them." He squinted as he stared at the sky, watching Shin dance between shafts of light. "You have it easy, Ruwalk."
"I guess." Ruwalk had been idly tossing pebbles. Lady Ryula had forced them outside an hour ago, trying to get them to stop tormenting Lykouleon's sister, Elodie. Lykouleon complained that the baby of the family always got everything, but Ruwalk could see that stealing and hiding her favorite doll so many times today would make Ryula want to throw them out. "Let's do something else," he suggested.
Lykouleon sent him a long sideways glance. "Like what?"
"Um." Ruwalk blanked. What else was there to do? "I know! We can go to my house." Ruwalk beamed at his own brilliance. "Because I always come over here."
"Yeah," Lykouleon decided. "Let's go."
The boys got to their feet, going towards the wrought iron gate. Lykouleon clasped his hands around the cold bars, look at the world between them. "This fence wasn't always here." He frowned. He sandwiched his foot between two of the bars and started to climb over. Normally Ruwalk would have shown a little more hesitation, but he couldn't help following his best friend. He didn't have the word for it then, and it was one he had not heard very often in his own home. He trusted Lykouleon in almost every manner of things. Now he trusted Lykouleon to take him on another adventure, and most importantly, not get caught.
The fence was easy enough to climb over, with a little boost. "Stay here, Shin," Lykouleon instructed the Light Dragon. "If you don't, then they'll know we're out."
Shin ruffled its wings, expressing disapproval. Lykouleon sighed. "You can't come with us. If you did, everyone would know we've left. I'm sorry," he apologized.
Going without the Dragon would be their first step in a disguise, but they did not think about the second. Out of the walls of the Dragon Castle and past the wealthier houses, they had not thought of how they would look outside of their homes. Two noble boys, almost glittering when they walked, in a crowd of people at the daily market. They didn't notice how the crowd made room for them or the whispers after them.
Lykouleon had never been outside of the palace without his father and a handful of Dragon Fighters, and that last time had been over a year ago. He glanced at Ruwalk again, and smiled. Two boys, two best friends, and the endless promise of everything that today could be.
They meandered through the crowded streets of Draqueen, oblivious to all the second looks they were receiving from the common folks they passed. They lost themselves on the winding streets, finding themselves from the marketplace to residential neighborhoods they had never seen before. They had planned to go to Ruwalk's house, but lost sight of that plan in favor of exploring as they wandered.
They were exhausted when they found their way on the edge of town. Lykouleon sucked in a breath. "I've never been out here before them."
All around them, green fields, trees, woods. He'd never been in a forest before. He'd never seen a landscape like this with his own eyes. The pictures in books couldn't compare. A picture might look beautiful, but it couldn't make you smell the fresh grass or feel the cool wind. Flipping through pages in a book did not make you sweat and make your mouth feel dry as sand. The books weren't lies, but this was real and true.
Lykouleon sat down.
"Lykouleon!" Ruwalk tugged on his friend's shirt. "I'm thristy. Let's go."
Lykouleon sat for just a second longer. He had forgotten about everything for just a moment—about Ruwalk, and everything else. Awestruck.
These moments may come rarely, but more often than not, they were life changing. This was Lykouleon's first, and there would be more, though not for years to come. But please remember that moments that change your life can be either good or bad. Lykouleon would learn this, and the three of you certainly did as well.
"All right. Let's go." Lykouleon stood up, but would never forget a moment like this.
"We're lost," Ruwalk said, looking around him. "I've never been this far away from home on my own," he admitted.
Lykouleon slung an arm over his friend's shoulders. "You're not on your own right now." No, quite contrary. Everything was where it should be. They were two best friends, standing on the edge of the world.
"Let's just go back the way we came," Ruwalk suggested.
"Where's your sense of adventure?" Lykouleon took off at a sprint, not going back into the city, but running parallel to it.
"Lykouleon!" Ruwalk ran after him, not wanting to get left behind.
Ruwalk must have loved him so much. Enough to ruin his family's plans, and enough to usurp his own chance of glory. Chasing after him now was only the beginning. Ruwalk would follow him to the end of the world. But now. Now they were just two boys, and the day was wonderful.
They went back to the city, going through the outskirts into places the aristocrats had never seen. Houses crammed together, laundry flapping above their heads, hanging across the street. No one was starving in Draqueen—Ryuce made sure of that—but gaps still existed between rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots.
A jingling sound caught their attention, a sound much different from the whispered chatter they had been hearing all day. In front of them were colorfully dressed men and women, small bells hanging from their sleeves. Music followed them. It was a sight meant to attract attention, they both knew. Lykouleon was the one that went after them.
"Nomads," Ruwalk hissed under his breath. Bad reputation. Stay away.
"They look really…neat." Lykouleon's green eyes followed them. "I wonder where they've been."
Ruwalk stuck his hands in his pockets. "Robbing people." He muttered his guess.
"They can't all be bad." Lykouleon started walking a little faster to catch up with them.
"Yes, they can," Ruwalk started to object, but what choice did he have but to follow?
"Excuse us," Lykouleon walked right beside to beautiful women, slender, make-up painted on their faces. Ruwalk hung a few steps behind, getting sideways glances from a tall muscular man on his right side. "I was just wondering where you from?" Lykouleon asked.
One of the women raised her thin eyebrows at him. "Arinas." Lykouleon didn't recognized the heavy accent, but knew that it wasn't from the Eastern continent. Ellis never sounded like that, even if he hadn't seen the Water Knight since he was very young. "And you, child?" the woman asked.
"Draqueen." He knew better than saying he was from the Dragon Castle. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same of you, young noble."
Lykouleon felt his cheeks redden at being so obvious. Ruwalk cleared his throat loudly. "We were just going home," he said, fast, before the prince could get another word in.
"A pity." The woman pouted her lips. "You might have stayed to enjoy our show."
"What kind of show?" Lykouleon asked. He watched Ruwalk, and grinned. It had become some kind of a game between them. Whoever spoke first got their way.
"Singing, dancing, weapon demonstrations, you name it."
Lykouleon nodded to Ruwalk. "Weapon demonstrations, Ruwalk! I need to learn how to use a sword." It was a good enough excuse for Ruwalk. He could pretend to be the responsible one, but even he had wanted to see this.
"All right," he agreed, trying not to sound as excited as he really was.
The woman clapped her hands together once and turned to her traveling companions. "My company! Now seems to be the time for a show!"
"Now, Sersy?" The man behind her grunted.
She looked at him over her shoulder. "Gregor, these two boys—" she indicated Ruwalk and Lykouleon with a wide sweep of her arms—"have places to go to and would like to see the show." She winked at him.
Gregor nodded. The streets were busy, but now may as well be as good a place as any. He cupped his hands, yelled something to the rest of the group, and within minutes, the street became a stage.
A small crowd gathered to watch and became bigger as the show went on. It started simply with just some music, from the quite gentle strings of a lute to the fiddle and whistles that, if played alone, would make dogs howl. Somehow, the instruments blended together in a melody, and the melody became a song.
"And now, a traditional song from Arinas," Sersy, apparently the leader of the operation, presented.
A different woman stepped up. "Estuans interius, ira vehemeni." Her voice was the only sound. Not even a note from one of the instruments. The foreign words hung around them all.
"Estuans interius, ira veheminti," Sersy joined in. The sound of their voices together made goose bumps rise on Lykouleon's skin.
The two women looked each other, circling each like the beginning of a fight. "Sors immanis et inanis – Sors immanis et inanis—" A battle of words that no one understood but them.
"Veni, veni, venias," The first woman cried out, Sersy echoing her words—"Ne me mori facias—Veni, veni, vencias—Ne me mori facias—"
A long stretch of silence. The song had just sounded so dangerous, like a warning. Suddenly the fear fell from their voices, their gaze dropped to the ground. "Veni, veni, venias," they sang in unison. Now it came with sorrow, a sad resignation. "Ne me mor facias." And, the last line, like a hopeless plea: "Ne me mori facias."
Lykouleon was glad they decided to come outside today. This was what life without walls was like.
He sat, hypnotized by the silence, as powerful as the song had been. He knew those words were from Arinas, even if the women weren't. He had heard Ellis muttering things like that to himself. He would have to find out what they meant at some point. But not now! There were swords, there were staffs being flawlessly passed from person to person. The weapon was about to begin. Lykouleon craned his neck to see more clearly. He didn't want to miss a second of this!
"HEY! Stop that!" Someone shouted, a booming male voice. All heads turned to see the armored man it belonged to. He carried a spear in one hand, and the heavy plate armor he wore said that he belonged in this area no more than Lykouleon and Ruwalk. Lykouleon didn't even try to hid his relief when he saw that it was not one of the Dragon Fighters looking for him. One glance at the at the crest cut into the upper left breastplate also made it clear that it was not one of Reiner's—Ruwalk's father—private soldiers. A different noble, then, who thought he had control of this part of the city.
"This is not a permissible place for any kind of public performance! And since when are weapons allowed on public streets?"
Lykouleon slit his eyes at the soldier. No one seemed to mind that he had a spear. The prince chewed his lower lip and watched the faces of the performers change, first in surprise, and then to anger. The coins scattered in front of their impromptu stage were how these people made their living. Who was this man to interrupt them? Ruwalk looked at Lykouleon. He understood, too.
The fully armed nomads glowered at the soldier, arguing back that this was how they lived. Lykouleon swallowed. If violence broke out, it would be trouble for all of them. "You stop it!" The childish voice rose above the crowd. So many heads turned to see the golden-haired boy that has just spoken: heart pounding, clenched fists, eyes set straight ahead.
The soldier withheld a smile. "And who are you, exactly?"
"I am Prince Lykouleon, son of Ryuce, the Dragon King!" He had hoped that he would sound dignified, but did not expect the chortles that followed his speech.
The soldier didn't even try to hide his snickers. "Prove it, then."
A name wasn't enough. Lykouleon wished that he had not left Shin back at the Castle. How could he make anyone believe him?
"I believe I can vouch for him."
The crowd turned, taking its attention off Lykouleon. Kene stood behind the mass of people, Earth Dragon poised on one shoulder. His expression was somewhere between amusement and frustration. The crowd parted when they saw him, leaving a straight line of just three people. Kene, Lykouleon, and the soldier. "This is Lord Ryuce's son."
The soldier stopped his chuckle. What could he do?
"Leave these people alone," Lykouleon said in a calm, strong voice. He was learning to talk like his father.
The soldier got on one knee to bow. Lykouleon bit the inside of his lip to keep from smiling. The strange feeling of pride spread through him, but grew uncomfortable when not just the soldier, but the audience, the nomands, and even Ruwalk were on one knee. He looked desperately at Kene, trying to figure out what to do. Kene only gave a low nod to the boy. He was on his own for this one. Lykouleon tapped Ruwalk on the shoulder, indicating that he should stand as well. He grew more confident with his friend next to him, enough to clear his throat and say, "Thank you. Um…please stand."
It wasn't bad for his first public appearance, especially considering that the whole thing had been ad-libbed.
It was impossible for him to melt back into the crowd as Lykouleon walked back to Kene, Ruwalk close behind as always. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Lykouleon asked.
"Big trouble," Kene promised. "Though, er, nice job back there."
Lykouleon gave him a half-hearted smile, not looking forward to the lecture he would receive once he got home. "Thanks." The day had been worth the worst punishment that his father could dish out, anyway.
Just as they were going to leave, Sersy approached Kene. "Is it all right if these two fine young gentlemen get a proper thank-you from our party?" She fluttered her long, probably fake, eyelashes at Kene. "It won't take very long."
Kene thought on it for a moment. "Make it fast."
"Of course." She curtsied to him and lead Lykouleon and Ruwalk towards the rest of the nomads.
"One of our dancers, Maren, has something she wants to say to you," Sersy went on.
"I didn't see any dancing," Ruwalk pointed out.
"No. She just had a baby, a sweet daughter named Anke." She said the name with such warmth, she may as well have been speaking about her own child. Anke. Lykouleon tucked the name away in his mind. He had the feeling he would hear it again.
Maren was just about as lovely as the others, but paler than the rest, with gray circles under her eyes. She held a bundle of blankets in her arms, no doubt her new daughter. "We really can't thank you enough for stepping it. There could have been fighting, and it would especially mean trouble for us, the outsiders."
Lykouleon nodded. "Nobles can get too arrogant. I should have a talk with my father about that." He looked at Ruwalk. "No offense."
Ruwalk rolled his eyes. "None taken."
"And you boys are in some kind of trouble, I'm guessing."
They both nodded.
Maren cocked her head in the direction of some short buildings, wooden crates just below them. An easy escape onto the roof.
Knowing full well he was playing into the part, Lykouleon asked for her hand, and kissed it. Ruwalk would tease him for years to come about that one. They ran across the low-hanging roof, to the next one, and the next one. The trouble came when they found themselves staring down one much taller than the both of them. "Give me a boost, and then I'll help you up," Lykouleon suggested. Ruwalk crouched down to give him a boost. Lykouleon put his hands on the sharp ridges of the roof and started to pull him up when he let out a cry of pain and dropped back down. His hands were covered in blood. Two horizontal lines slashed across his palms, bright red blood falling from his wounds.
"Let me see that." Ruwalk went towards Lykouleon, who quickly drew his arms back to him.
"Don't touch it."
"I just want to take a look."
Lykouleon ducked his hands under his shirt. "Don't. It's dangerous." Somehow he knew, and knew Ruwalk shouldn't go near his blood. "I'll have my mama take care of it."
"Now you want to go home?"
Lykouleon nodded. "Don't touch my blood."
"I said it's time to go." Kene was in sight again, and none too pleased that they had gotten away from him a second time.
"Lykouleon's hurt," Ruwalk called down to him.
"Come down."
They went back down, across the roofs that they ran over just minutes before. "Let's see," Kene told Lykouleon. The prince held his palms out towards Kene. There must have been something instinctual within the Dragon Tribe. Just like Lykouleon, Kene understood that this blood was not to be touched. Instead, he just ripped a clean piece of cloth in two and offered it to Lykouleon to tie around his cuts. "Your mother can help you with that when we get home." He looked at Ruwalk. "And you may as well go home when we get back to the Castle."
Ryula bandaged her son's hands. "Good boy, Luke, not letting anyone else touch it," she told him. "Not everyone should see your blood. Even the Knights shouldn't get too close."
"Thanks, Mama."
Ryula finished wrapping the second bandaged around his hands. "Now go see your papa. I think he has a few things to say to you."
Lykouleon groaned.
"What were you thinking?" Ryuce demanded just minutes later. "You left the Castle without permission or an escort."
"I had Ruwalk with me!"
"A child! And you left Shin behind!"
"I had to," Lykouleon tried to explain. "You would've figure it out sooner if I didn't."
"A Knight does NOT leave his Dragon behind!" Ryuce's voice rose. He hated shouting, but it may have been the only way to get through to him.
"How am I supposed to be a Knight without a sword?" Lykouleon shot back, just as angry.
"You're too young for a sword!"
"Am not!" Lykouleon paused. "And you need to do something about those nobles. This is your city, not theirs!"
"Don't even try to talk politics with me, Lykouleon." He used the full name, making sure that Lykouleon knew he was in trouble. "You don't understand how complicated things can get. Having one person in charge of a portion of a city—"
"Get secretaries, or something!" Lykouleon threw his arms above his head, exasperated. Why was he even trying to talk to his father about this? "If you rule the world, Papa, then you should be able to fix it."
You might have guessed that Ruwalk was going through punishment of his own, but for much different reasons. I don't often show you what happens outside the Dragon Castle, but this time I think I must. It is a small taste of what is to come for Ruwalk.
Ruwalk stood before his father, knowing full well that he was in for it. "What we ask of you is not very hard to do. Is it difficult to be the young lord's friend without getting him into trouble?"
"No, Father."
"And is it so difficult to be polite to the princess?"
"She's only a baby," Ruwalk started.
"She is old enough."
Elodie was about seven years old. Her main concerns were getting playtime and keeping her pesky brother and his friend away from ruining it. Now it might also be a good time to mention that Elodie did not grow as fast as Lykouleon, who was able to keep up with Ruwalk, despite the difference in years. Elodie acted like a seven-year-old. In fact, and this is something that was almost never mentioned in the Castle, Elodie was born human.
"I don't like Elodie," Ruwalk complained.
"I suggest you start, if you're lucky enough to get invited back to the Castle again."
Ruwalk didn't understand the plan then. He wouldn't for a few more years to come. And of course he was invited back to the Dragon Castle. He couldn't stay away.
And time went on.
Things went on, if not always peacefully, but with a routine and lifestyle that was kind enough. Changes had occurred through the years, some more worrisome than others. Lykouleon finally received a sword and practiced each day, when he wasn't getting into trouble with his usual accomplice, Ruwalk. Kene and Sarazar finally married and would be very happy together. Sonas had a strange request for Lord Ryuce to be able to live outside of the Castle, but still close by in the town. Ryuce had to refuse him, though. One missing Knight was already too much to lose. No one had heard seen Ellis in years.
When Lykouleon appeared to be about fifteen, news of a demon in one of the Eastern villages spilled into the Castle. It was too strong for the villagers to fight and had already driven many of them from their homes. The handfuls of Dragon Fighters that had been sent after it had not returned. It seemed that it was coming to be time for the Dragon Knights to do what they had been trained to.
In the years of peace that they enjoyed, the Knights had not allowed themselves to fall out of practice. It had been quite some time, however, since they had been in a real battle. They could spar with each other, but this was different. This time, if they lost, they would be dead.
"I want to go, too!" Lykouleon stood in front of his father. "I'm a Knight, too. It's my job to kill demons."
Ryuce tightened his grip on his cane. "You are also my son, and it is my job to keep you safe."
"And it's my job to keep other people safe!"
They stared at each other. "You're not ready," Ryuce said firmly.
"And when will I be ready, Papa? When?" The prince demanded. "Think of this as a test of my skills."
"You've never faced a demon before!" Ryuce kept a white-knuckle grip on his cane, as if it supported him better than his own two legs. "You don't know what it's like."
"And how will I ever know if you never let me leave?" Lykouleon retorted. "A prince should help defend his kingdom."
"And what good will you be to the kingdom if you're dead?"
Lykouleon drew a breath. Why didn't his father ever let him do anything? "Fine," he relented. But if he could figure out a way to get out of the Castle without anyone knowing…
Elodie poked her head in the room. She resembled her father with her dark hair and the shape of her face. "Luke, will you help me with something?"
He sighed. "As I have nothing else to do, apparently." He turned to go. "What do you need, Ellie?"
As they left, out of Ryuce's sight, a grin spread across Elodie's face. "You're not going to let everyone else have all the fun, are you?" She winked. "You can get out through the Dragon Fighter's quarters."
He gave her a hug. "Elle, you're the best sister in the world."
"I know." She stuck her tongue out playfully at him.
The Dragon Fighter's quarters became one of Lykouleon's preferred escape routes from that day on, as you should know. At least until Alfeegi caught him at it, and chewed out Ruwalk for "accidentally" overlooking it as a possible escape route.
Lykouleon flew out on Shin. The feel of wind whipping at his skin and hair tossed back across his head gave him chills. He gripped the Light Dragon with his knees, much like riding a dranas, and leaned forward on the Dragon. It didn't take him long to catch up to the other Knights. "I'm coming too," he announced to them. Kene nodded. They flew on.
Perhaps it was the flight that was making Lykouleon's stomach churn. He was simply dizzy watching everything go beneath him so fast. He had to admit that he was nervous, but so was everyone. Something in the air didn't smell right. He tried not to inhale too deeply.
Their target was visible below them, a huge creature, larger than the villagers' houses. It took the shape of a wolf, claws on its six legs at least a foot long. Its dark blue hair was sleek, covering the whole beast in a silky fur-like curtain. Its teeth were even longer, sharpened to the point.
Lykouleon covered his mouth. He thought he might be sick.
The three most experienced Knights glanced at each other. Kene and Lera both readied their swords. Sonas summoned flames to his hand. "I'll distract it," he told them. It was time for action. They couldn't hover above it for much longer.
"We'll take the sides." Lera looked at Kene. She turned behind them towards Lykouleon. "You'll be all right," she tried to assure him.
He had broken out in a cold sweat. His hands shook. He barely managed to get out the word, "Yes."
Sonas threw a handful of flame at the demon. It snapped its head towards the Fire Knight. He stared at the monster, collecting more flames in his hands. At the same time, Lera and Kene flew off in opposite directions and dove toward the demon. Riku's talons splayed as they cut through the blue fur and sank into its flesh.
Hayate slammed its side into the demon, launching Lera off. She landed, knees bent, on its back. The raised hairs on its back scratched into her armor, and she knew she had made a poor decision.
Lykouleon inhaled. Was he a Knight or not? It was time to move. He spurred Shin onwards, towards the creature's face. At the same time, Lera dug her sword deep into the demon. It let out a cry of pain, opening its huge maw. In between lines of teeth, instead of a tongue, it had a man's head, bald, eyes wild and wide, screaming. The monster's voice.
Lykouleon fainted. He slipped backwards on his Dragon, who suddenly shot back up. The unconscious boy slipped off its back, plummeting towards the ground. Shin reversed directions to catch Lykouleon, just a few feet above the ground. Lera stabbed her sword into the demon's side, leapt at the hilt, and let her weight drag it down the beast's sides.
The demon screeched again, Sonas took aim, and threw a ball of flame down the demon's throat.
Lera hit the ground, face and arms covered with thin cuts from the needle-like fur. She turned and looked for her Dragon, calling, "Hayate!" The demon extended its claws and swiped her. They cut through her armor as though it was parchment. The impact brought her to the ground.
Shin deposited Lykouleon gently on one of the rooftops nearby, spreading its wings over the boy. Seeing that he was going to be protected, Sonas flew towards the demon, still choking on fire. Helping Lera was more immediate right now.
He stretched a whip of fire between his two hands, snaking it out towards the demon's snout. It lashed against the creature, giving Kene time to fly above it and then lower himself by Lera. She struggled to stand up.
Kene stretched his hand out toward her. She took it, pulling herself up. He wanted to tell her to get out of here and take care of her wounds, but the look in her eyes told him she wasn't going anywhere. Hayate nudged her from behind. She mounted the Dragon, moving upward until she and Kene were safely out of the demon's grasp.
Kene looked around, breathless. "Where's Prince Lykouleon?"
Sonas cocked his head in the direction of Lykouleon. "Shin is with him."
Kene nodded. "We need to finish this, and fast."
"We'll attack together," Lera said. She couldn't help a faint smile. Just like old times.
As they pulled back to ready themselves for what they hoped would be the final attack, another person appeared. Someone either brave or crazy enough to try fighting this thing by his or her self—or did they knew there were already people nearby fighting?
The person ran the tip of his sword under the monster's neck, getting dangerously close to the demon. Black blood spilled down on him. The demon writhed as its blood spilled, finally succumbing to the unexpected strike. The Knights watched for several more minutes as the demon died. They landed, back to the ground to stand face-to-face with this person.
Despite the blood that stained his clothes, despite not having seen him for years, they knew who it was.
Shin suddenly screeched, a noise that woke Lykouleon. His head throbbed. The smell of blood was thick in the air. He peered over the roof of the building, watching the stranger. He didn't know the person's face, but would know his voice when he spoke.
Ellis was back.